Six Lessons Learned Over Six Years of Blogging

Let me take you back a few years to 2018. I was a stay-at-home mom, and my boys were 3 and 5 years old.

I was feeling bored and restless. I had owned a coaching business before I had kids, and I desired a creative outlet and wanted to get back into the realm of entrepreneurship, but on my own time and without scheduled clients.

I felt strongly about the positive benefits of routines for adults and kids and truly believed that routines helped me stay sane as a stay-at-home mom.

I was also intrigued with how others spent their time and/or the routines they followed.

I decided I wanted to give blogging a try and make the topic routines.

I bought a stay-at-home mom digital bundle from Ultimate Bundles, and within that bundle was an eBook by Suzi from Start a Mom Blog. The eBook was all about how to start a blog. It had checklists, timelines, and resources so it was right up my alley!

After going through the eBook, I was really excited to start a blog. I just wasn’t sure what to call it…

Then it hit me one day while I was vacuuming – This Routine Life!

In March of 2019, I ended up buying the “Blog by Number” course from Suzi for $50 which was a lot of money at the time. I felt kind of guilty for spending money on myself, but I also knew this was something I had to pursue to feel more fulfilled and happy.

I would wake up every morning at 5am and work for just 30 minutes – going through the course and creating the blog.

In June 2019, I had the blog up and running, and hit publish on my first post, The Beginners Guide to Family Routines.

Since that time, I haven’t always given the blog 100%, but I haven’t completely abandoned it either. It’s been my creative outlet and I’m proud to say that some of my posts are now ranking on the first and second pages of Google!

I’ve also learned a lot in the process of creating and sustaining the blog. When you plant a seed (and for me the seeds were pinning posts to Pinterest) you never know what might bloom. I pinned this post multiple times in 2020 and a year later it’s what brought in most of my traffic, and still is my number one post and brings in the most people to This Routine Life!

I’ve never once regretted the $50 I spent to create This Routine Life. This blog has helped me connect with other amazing moms who are struggling and just need a little guidance and hope. It’s also taught me that small consistent steps really do lead to results (even if not immediate), so don’t give up!

Six years later, this blog became a part-time job. I’m blessed to be able to work from home, while doing something I’m so passionate about – helping moms feel less overwhelmed and enjoy motherhood more.

Looking back on those six years of writing, creating, connecting, and growing this blog, I’ve learned so much—not just about blogging, but about myself, motherhood, and the value of showing up consistently (even if it’s inconsistent).

Here are six lessons I’ve learned along the way (you can apply these lessons to motherhood also):

#1 – If you’re starting something new, stick to one “teacher”.

In the early days of the blog, I implemented what I was learning from Suzi Whitford of Start a Mom Blog. I didn’t take a ton of information from different people and tried to piece it together. Suzi was my one and only teacher. This helped me stay focused. This is the reason I was able to launch the blog in a matter of months.

#2 – Consistency builds connection.

In the early days, I blogged whenever I could—naptime, early mornings, late nights. And while my posting schedule wasn’t always perfect, I kept showing up. Over time, I started hearing from readers who said things like, “I felt like you were in my head,” or “Your post helped me get through the day.” That connection didn’t happen overnight—it was built through consistent, honest sharing.

#3 – Don’t give up.

I haven’t necessarily been consistent with the amount of time I’ve spent working on the blog, as I’ve navigated different seasons of life. When my kids were home during Covid, and I started a work from home job for a University, This Routine Life went on the backburner. I was spending one or two hours a week pinning posts to Pinterest or emailing my list. But I wasn’t creating anything new. Eventually, I worked my way back to spending more time creating and connecting with my audience. I thank my past self for not giving up.

#4 – Being your own boss isn’t easy.

As disciplined as I am, it’s so easy to avoid important business tasks, or procrastinate when it comes to starting a project, when you don’t have someone holding you accountable. There were a few years when I struggled to stick to “working hours”. But over time, I kept trying, and I no longer blow off the hours that I set aside to work.

However, I still struggle to find a working routine. Eventually, I’d like to get to the point where I focus on certain tasks on certain days of the week. But I’m just not there yet…

#5 – Progress matters more than polish.

As much as I would love to have a perfectly polished and organized blog. My time is better spent creating content that will be helpful for you. I’ve tried not to get too caught up in making things “perfect” – or else I would make very little progress. I also don’t waste time comparing This Routine Life to other blogs with similar niches. I try to remind myself that I’m on my own journey and things will play out the way they are supposed to.

#6 – Don’t wait to get started.

I didn’t know anything about blogging when I created This Routine Life. And I didn’t have a ton of time to devote to learning. However, I didn’t let that stop me from giving it a try.

I also didn’t put any pressure on myself to make it “perfect” or “successful”. I decided I would just follow the blogging course and work on it when and if I could.

You’re never going to find the “perfect” time to pursue something that interests you. My kids are now older, and even though I don’t have to watch over them like when they were toddlers, I now spend a lot of time on their activities/sports outside of school.

If there’s something you want to pursue but you don’t think you have the time or the energy, my advice is to start small. Even as little as 10 minutes a day can make a difference. As your season of life changes, you’ll be able to pour more time into your passion project.

This Routine Life is a Community

Over the years, I’ve realized that This Routine Life isn’t just my creative outlet. It’s a community. Every email reply, comment, and DM reminds me that I’m not the only one navigating the chaos of motherhood. And that’s what keeps me going. Knowing that what I share here—whether it’s a morning routine checklist or a vulnerable story—can help one mom feel a little more in control, a little less alone… that’s everything.

In case you’re interested, here’s the top six posts over the last six years:

**Before you leave, grab The “Type A” Moms Guide to Feel Organized + In Control of Your Time, for FREE. You’ll find it here.**

Six Lessons Learned Over Six Years of Blogging

Here are six lessons I’ve learned along the way (you can apply these lessons to motherhood also):